Bridgend offers coastline, country parks and a genuinely dog-friendly community. Key attractions include Bryngarw Country Park (100+ acres with woodland paths and off-lead areas), Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes (Europe's second-largest dune system), Newton Beach and Pink Bay, and a traffic-free cycle path network. Dog-friendly establishments include Corvo Lounge, Beat Bakehouse and the Bryngarw Country Park cafe. Essential services: Gorgeous Paws Dog Grooming, The Groom Room at Pets at Home, Vets4Pets Bridgend, and Royvon Playhouse Bridgend for training and boarding. Year-round dog beaches: Newton Beach, Pink Bay, Sker Beach, Merthyr Mawr area. Restricted beaches (May-September): Rest Bay, Trecco Bay, Sandy Bay, Town Beach.